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There’s the social drinker and then there’s the problem drinker. For someone with a drinking problem, alcohol has created problems and difficulties in their life. They’ve also developed a relationship with their drinking that normal, social drinkers do not have. Here are 12 signs you’re a problem drinker as told in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” gifs. (Keep in mind that, though we might add a certain levity to the topic, problem drinking and alcoholism are very serious issues for which there is help available).
#1. You’re a Firm Believer in ‘Hair of the Dog’
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You’re a problem drinker if your first thought in the morning, or afternoon – whenever you wake up – is “hair of the dog.” It actually seems logical to you that, in order to “cure” your hangover, you just need to drink more.
#2. You Never Waste Alcohol
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You’re dedicated to that drink, alright. I mean, you might be feeling sick but, you just opened that bottle. There’s no way you’re gonna waste a perfectly good drink because you’re gonna throw up. Purge and keep going, that’s your motto.
#3. You Drink to Get Drunk
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You drink to get drunk. Period. You can’t understand why people drink for any other reason (i.e. just to have a drink or cocktail). You’re definitely a problem drinker if the sole purpose of drinking is to get black-out drunk. Or, maybe, your goal isn’t to black out, per se, but you tend to lose chunks of time or consciousness altogether when you drink. Definitely not a normal drinker.
#4. You Think Alcohol Makes Everything Better
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Commonly called a social lubricant and “liquid courage,” you like to drink because it lowers your inhibitions and makes you better at everything. Even dancing. Social drinking becomes problem drinking when you find yourself thinking (and believing) that you need alcohol in order to have a good time and, as your problem progresses, that you need alcohol to do anything – from running errands (they’re so boring without it, right?) to dealing with the kids, to dealing with the boss and coworkers, and so on.
#5. Getting Wasted is Always Your First Concern
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In fact, your first priority is to get hammered. Whatever you have on your “to-do” list, the first thing is always to handle the alcohol situation. Everything else will follow suit.
#6. You Hide Your Drinking
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Let’s just say, it’s not normal to hide your drinking. When you’re finding what you think are clever ways to mask your drinking, it’s time to consider that you have developed a drinking problem.
#7. You Embarrass Yourself (and Others) While Under the Influence
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Speaking of blacking out, when you drink you tend to, as the expression goes, “show your ass.” Now, this could be both literally and figuratively. Oh, you also have been actually hospitalized for alcohol-related reasons: alcohol poisoning, pancreatitis, injuries from fighting, car accidents involving alcohol – which brings us to the next item on our list….
#8. You Take Stupid Risks
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Driving under the influence has become a regular pastime of yours. Meaning, that you are drunk or toasted on such a regular basis that you simply can’t really avoid not driving while at least somewhat buzzed. This isn’t to say that we condone this behavior. What we’re saying is that your drinking has definitely become a problem because you take such risks as driving while under the influence.
#9. You Can’t Stand Other People without Having a Drink
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Another sign you’re a problem drinker is that you are generally irritable and can’t stand anybody anymore. You are increasingly finding more and more solace in your new best friend, alcohol.
#10. You Aren’t Concerned with Nutrition
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Your idea of a well-balanced meal involves an alcoholic beverage, a cigarette, and well, whatever takes the slight edge off of any feelings of hunger you might have. Face it, all you need is alcohol. Everything else is just an afterthought.
#11. You Become Increasingly Reclusive
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wifflegif.com
Like we said, all you need is alcohol. Your relationship with alcohol might have started out as a social thing to do, then became something to “enhance” social activities, then to “enhance” every day life. By now, it’s a completely committed relationship with your one true love: alcohol. Yep, it’s just the two of you against the world.
#12. You “Let Yourself Go”
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Alcohol won’t judge you when you let yourself go. When you do embarrassing things, like poop your pants. Nope, you can count on alcohol to be there for you in all your sad and lonely moments.
If you suspect that you are a problem drinker or that someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-951-6135.